Shloka 8
कृत्वा विमर्द महदर्जुनेन कर्णो हत: केसरिणेव नाग: । तीर्णा प्रतिज्ञा पुरुषर्षभेण वैरस्यान्तं गतवांश्षापि पार्थ:
kṛtvā vimardaṃ mahad arjunena karṇo hataḥ kesariṇeva nāgaḥ | tīrṇā pratijñā puruṣarṣabheṇa vairasyāntaṃ gatavān so’pi pārthaḥ ||
三阇耶说道：阿周那掀起一场巨大而惨烈的搏杀之后，迦尔那被诛——如同雄狮扑倒巨象。于是，男子之雄帕尔他（阿周那）履行了誓愿，终结了长久的仇怨。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the binding force of a solemn vow (pratijñā) and the harsh moral terrain of kṣatriya-dharma: even when the outcome is tragic, a warrior is portrayed as obligated to complete a pledged duty and bring a conflict to its decisive end.
Sañjaya reports that Arjuna, after an intense battle, kills Karṇa. The simile compares Karṇa’s fall to an elephant felled by a lion. Arjuna thereby completes his vow and ends the enmity centered on this duel.